Quilting machine



Dec. 13, 1949 G. SCHADT 2,490,887.

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i INVENTOR. ELM. GEORGE SCHADT Y G. SCHADT QUILTING MACHINE Dec. 13,1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 8, 1945 INVENTOR. GEORGE SCHADT Dec.13, 1949 GFS CHADT QUILTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 8, 1945 5 SheetsSheet 4GEORGE SCHADT INVENTOR.

Dec. 13, 1949 G. SCHADT QUILTING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 8,1945 INVENTOR.

T D A H C S E G R O E G Patented Dec. 13, 1949 am OFFICE QUILTINGMACHINE George Schadt, Detroit, and Mathewson,

Mich, assignor to Schadt a corporation of Michigan Application December8, 1945, Serial No. 633,673 8 Claims. (Cl. 112-118) This inventionrelates to quilting machines, and has particular reference to certainnew and useful improvements therein which facilitate and expedite thework of the operator of the machine.

In machines of this type, the material to be stitched is placed in'hoops which form the ends of a cylinder, the body of which is the quiltto-be stitched. When using a machine of this type, the operator mustshift the quilt or Work about its axis of rotation-as 'well'aslongitudinally thereof so as to'properly develop apattern to be appliedto the quilt. A sewing machine forms a part of the machine and performsthe stitches on the quilt. This invention contemplates the provision ofan improved machine of this type, by-means of which the quilt may bemore expeditiously brought in cooperative relationship with the sewingmachine.

Principal objects of vide:

A new and improved quilting machine;

A quilting machine which is constructed and arranged in such a mannerthat the work thereon maybe more efficiently handled and presented tothe sewing machine thereof.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and claims and will be understood by reference tothe accompanying drawings, of which there are five sheets, which, by wayof illustration, show a preferred embodiment of'the invention and theprinciples thereof, and what is now considered to be the best mode ofapplying such principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodyingthe same or equivalent principles may be used, and structural changesmay be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It isalso contemplated that of the several different features of theinvention, certain ones thereof may be advantageously employed in someapplications separate and apart from the remainder of the features.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevational. view taken from the line 3-3 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken along theline 4-4 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line5-5 of Fig. 4, looking inthe direction of the arrows;

the invention are to pro- Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of themachine taken from the line 6-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line ofFig. 2; I

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the sewingmachine, and taken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentaryelevational view of the machine takenalong the line- 99 of Fig. 2 and illustrating a quilt mounted on thecylinder thereof; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of one end of thecylinder illustrating the means by which a quilt is detachably securedto the cylinder. 7 7

Referring now toFigs. 1 and 2, the machine in general comprises a framehaving standards 20 forming a support for the machine and interconnectedby transverse bars or frame members 22, 24 and 26. A cylinder indicatedgenerally at 28 (Fig. 9) adapted for holding a quilt 30 in the mannerillustrated in Figs. 9 and 0, is

more fully explained hereinafter. I

The sewing machine 32 further includes a work surf having any suitablenism with the reciprocation of the needle 42. The shaft 54 is journaledin bearings '55, which are mounted upon one of the frame members 24.

The surface or table 50 has associated therewith a stretcher, or formermember 58, over which the material to be stitched passes or slides, andwhich stretcher functions to hold such material against wrinkling duringstitching. This stretcher 59, as illustrated, comprises a loop framewhich is secured to one of the frame members 24 at the needle end of thetable 59, the upper surface of the member 50 being in substantially thesame plane as the surface of the table 50, but sloping slightlydownwardly away from the opposite sides thereof. The presser foot 44 maybe formed of a transparent plastic material so as to make it possiblefor the operator of the machine to follow the pattern to be stitched onthe quilt.

The shaft 46 has a pulley 60 affixed thereon, such pulley being indriving relationship with the belt 62, which is driven from the pulley64 driven by the motor 34. Between the pulley 54 and the motor 34, aclutch mechanism, indicated generally at B6, is provided, such clutchmechanism being controlled by a lever 68,. which is connected bysuitable linkage I to the clutch pedal 35, so that by rocking of theclutch pedal 35 the drive between the motor 34 and the sewing machine 32may be interrupted. The clutch mechanism 90 includes a dog clutch whichis disengaged when the pedal 36 is rocked or depressed, the clutchmechanism 66 being constructed and arranged so that it willautomatically re-engage upon release of the clutch pedal 36. Since theclutch mechanism 66 may be of any conventional or desired construction,it is believed that no further illustration thereof is necessary.

The clutch pedal control of the driven connection between the motor andthe sewing machine 32, however, provides the operator of the quiltingmachine with a very responsive control over the operation thereof, sothat the operation of the sewing machine 32 may be started and stoppedto enable the quilt to be shifted. The shafts 45 and 54, as illustratedin Fig. 7, project beyond the bearings II and are each provided with asprocket I2, the sprockets I2 being interconnected by a chain I4 so thatthe shaft 54 the shaft 46. The bearings H in which the ends of theshafts 46 and 54 are journaled are suitably supported by bracketsaffixed to the frame 20 at the right hand side of the machine. asillustrated in Fig. 6.

The frame members 22, 24, and 2B are suitably secured to the standards20, such as by means of U-shaped bolts 80 straddling the frame membersand passing through holes in the cross pieces 82 of the standards, nuts84 being applied to the threaded ends of the bolts 80.

The cylinder 28 comprises a pair of spaced hoops 86 which are adjustablysecured relative to each other so that the distance therebetween may beincreased or decreased in order to accommodate quilts of differentsizes. The construction of the hoops 86 is more particularly illustratedin Figs. 4 and 5, from which it may be observed that each hoop includesa spider 90, an inner race or circular member 92, and an outer race orring 94; The spider 90 includes a hub 95 having spokes 9B projectingtherefrom which define the spider 99. The hub 96 has an opening thereinthrough which the frame member 22 projects, it being observed that theframe member 22 is triangular or noncircular in cross section. The framemember 22 forms a guide upon which the cylinder 28 is axially shiftable.

The hub 96 is provided with a series of rollers I00, I02, which extendinto the opening thereof.

will be driven with I with the left hand hoop 86.

Said rollers I00, I02 are suitably journaled on shafts I06 and I08, andare arranged to engage the inclined side surfaces of the frame member 22so as to provide a rolling bearing for movement of the hoops 86 axiallyof the frame member 22. The arms 98 of each of the hoops 86 areadjustably interconnected by means of a plurality of telescoping tubesH2 and I I4, one end of each of the tubes H2 being secured to the arms98 of one of the spiders 90, while the opposite end of the tubes H4 aresecured to the arms of the other of the spiders 90. A clamp I I6 isaffixed to the outer tubes H2 adjacent to the joint between thetelescoped tubes'IIZ and H4 and may be tightened by means of the wingedscrew H3 so as to secure the hoops 86 relative to each other.

Each of the arms 98 of the spiders 90 of the hoops 86 are provided witha series of rollers I20, I22 and I24, each of such rollers beingjournaled on a suitable pin or shaft carried by the end of the arm 98.The rollers I20, I22 and I24 provide bearings for locating and rotatablysupporting the inner race 92 ofthe hoop, such race being positionedbetween the rollers I20 and I24, which take the side thrust of the race92, while the rollers I22 function to rotatably support the inner race92 for rotation about the axis of the frame member 22.

The outer race 94 is provided with a series of arms I30 forming bracketsfor a friction roller I32, which is mounted on a pin I34 carried by thearms I30. The roller I32 is clamped between the arms I30 so that it willnot freely rotate about the pin I34.

The inner race is provided with a groove I35 in which the rollers I32operate. The inner race has a strip I40 of flexible material such asfabric secured thereto by means of screws I42. A series of spaced clampsI44 are attached to the strip I40, and they are adapted to clamp theedges of the quilt 30, it being understood that one edge of the quilt 30is secured by the clamps I44 on the right hand hoop 86, while theopposite parallel edge of the quilt 30 is secured by the clamps I44associated When the quilt 30 is clamped to the races 92, it forms all orpart of a cylinder, depending upon the length of the quilt 30 and thesize of the hoops 86.

. The outer races 94 are interconnected by one or more bars I50 whichform a handle by means of which the races 92 may be rotated about theiraxis, or shifted longitudinally thereof. The bandle may be adjustable inthe same manner as the pipes H2 and H4 which interconnect the hoops 86,and, if desired, more than one handle I50 may be employed and positionedand in spaced relation to the other handle so as to expedite thetranslation of the cylinder 28 by the operator. The outer races 94 andthe handle I50 carried thereby thus are frictionally positionedrotatably relative to the inner races 92. However, by holding the innerrace against rotation, the outer race.

94 may be shifted circumferentially relative thereto so as to bringother portions of the quilt 30 into position to be acted upon by thesewing may be spring acso that they may be disengaged from the tuatedpincer type clamps readily engaged with or quilt 30.

In order to help in positioning the cylinder 20 against accidentalshifting, a brake mechanism,

such as that herein disclosed, may be employed.

This brake mechanism may comprise a pipe I60 covered with frictionmaterial, one end of the pipe I60 being secured to the left handstandard;

20, as indicated at I62. through the hoops 86, adjacent to the innerraces 92. The other end of the pipe projects through a slot I64 in theright hand standard 20. It is then bent downwardly as indicated at I66and-laterally as indicated at I68. A horizontally extended portion I70of the pipe is rotatably journaled in one or more brackets H2, so thatwhen the foot brake pedal 38 is rocked about the axis of the portion Iin one direction, the portion I60 of the pipe will bear against theinner races 92 and cooperate therewith to prevent rotational as wellasaxial movement thereof.

The sewing machine 32 further includes means for holding a spool ofthread I14 and for feeding such thread to the reciprocating needle 42during the operation thereof.

In operation of a. machine embodying the present invention, the hoops 36are positioned to enable the clamps I44 to be secured to opposite endedges of the quilt 30 and to clamp the quilt 30 essentially in acylindrical form between the hoops 86. The hoops 86 are then separatedaxially along the support 22 until the quilt 30 is drawn to a tautcylinder essentially as shown in Fig. 9. The proper spacing between thehoops 86 is maintained by securely clamping the extensible arms H2 andH4 together with the clamps H6.

The friction rollers I32 are journaled on their pins I34 to resistrotation except under relatively strong rotational forces. Hence, unlessthe brake rod I60 is set to lock the circular members 92 againstmovement, rotation of the races 94 will cause the members 92 to berotated by friction contact with the rollers I32. The relatively lightinertial force of the members 92 turning on their rollers I22 is notsufficient to cause the rollers I32 to rotate on their pins I34.Accordingly, circumferential movement of the handle I50 will rotate thequilt 30 when the brake I60 is not applied. By translating or rotatingthe handle I 50, the quilt 30 may be translated or rotated relative tothe sewing machine 32. The clutch foot pedal 36 permits simultaneousoperation of the sewing machine 32 as the quilt is rotated andtranslated so that intricate patterns may be sewn in the quilt 30.

During the sewing operation it frequenly becomes necessary to hold thequilt 30 rigid against both translation and rotation for variouspurposes as, for example, to check the alignment of the sewing needle 42with a particular portion of the quilt, or to make adjustments in thesewing machine 32, or to shift the position of the handle I50circumferentially relative to the quilt 30. By rocking the foot pedal 38to the braking position, the brake rod I50 will be moved into frictioncontact with the inner surfaces of both circular members 92 and rigidlyhold these members, and accordingly the quilt 30, against eithertranslatory or rotatory movement. With the circular members 92 thuslocked against movement, circumferential movement of the handle I50 willovercome the retarding friction force between the rollers I32 and theirjournal pins I34, the wheels I32 will roll along the tracks I 36, andthe handle I50 will be shifted so as to facilitate the bringing of a newportion of the quilt 30 under the sewing machine 32 at the top of thecylinder 28.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is understood that this is capable of modification, and Itherefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth,but desire to avail myself of such The pipe I 60 extends changes andalternations asfall within the pur view of the following claims. 1

I claim:

' 1. In a quilting machine having a sewing machine operative to sew aquilt as the latter is moved relative thereto, the combination of ahorizontal frame member, a pair of spaced spiders shi-ftable-axiallythereon, means to hold saidquilt in cylindrical form for sewing andcomprising a pair of spaced circular members having quilt engagingmeans, one of each of said circular members being rotatably mounted onone of each of said spiders, a handle means mounted for rotationconcentrically with said circular members, and a light friction couplingbetween said. circular members and said handle means to effect rotationof the former by the latter upon rotation f the latter, said handlemeans being readily rotatable relative to said circular members: andagainst the force of said friction coupling when said circular membersare restricted against rotation.

2. The combination in a quilting machine as claimed in claim 1 and beingfurther characterized in that brake means are provided for positivelyholding said movement.

3. The combination in a quilting machine as claimed in claim 1 and beingfurther characterized in that said handle means comprise a pair of ringsconcentric with said circular members, and a handle crossbar connectingsaid rings, said friction coupling being between said rings and saidcircular members. 1 4. The combination in a quilting machine as claimedin claim 3 and being further characterized in that means to facilitatethe circumferential movement of said rings relative to said circularmembers are provided which includes a brake means adapted to engage andto lock said circular members against movement.

5. In a quilting machine having a sewing machine operative to sew aquilt as the latter is moved relative thereto, the combination of ahorizontal frame member, a pair of spiders shiftable axially thereon,adjustable spacers connecting said spiders, means to hold said quilt incylindrical form for sewing and comprising a pair of circular membersproviding peripherally disposedfiexible strips and clamps carried bysaid strips to engage the edges of said quilt, each of said circularmembers being rotatably mounted on one of each of said spiders, andhandle means mounted for rotation concentrically with said circularmembers and being frictionally connected therewith for rotation thereof,the force of said frictional connection being slight to permit saidhandle means to be readily rotated relative to said circular membersupon restricting the movement of said circular members.

6. In a quilting machine having a sewing machine operative to sew aquilt as the latter is moved relative thereto, the combination of ahorizontal frame member, means to hold said quilt in cylindrical formfor sewing and comprising a pair of spaced quilt engaging circular hoopsmounted on said frame member for axial and rotative movement, adjustablespacers connecting said hoops for securing the latter in spacedrelationship relative to each other, a pair of rings mounted forrotation concentrically with said hoops, a handle crossbar connectingsaid rings, one of each of said rings being frictionally connected toone of each of said hoops for rotation thereof, the force of saidfrictional connection being circular members against slight to permitrotation of said handle means and rings readily relative to said hoopswhen rotation of the latter is restricted.

7.. The combination in a quilting machine as claimed in claim 6 andbeing further characterized in that brake means are provided forpositively holding said hoops against movement.

8. In a quilting machine having a sewing machine operative to sew aquilt as the latter is moved relative thereto, the combination of ahorizontal frame member, a pair of spaced spiders shiftable axiallythereon, means to hold said quilt in cylindrical form for sewing andcomprising a pair of spaced circular members having a quilt engagingmeans, one of said circular members being rotatably mounted on one ofeach of said spiders, a handle means mounted for rotation concentricallywith said circular members, and a coupling between said circular membersand said handle means adapted to transmit therebetween a small force toeffect rotation of the former by the latter upon rotation of the latter,said handle means being readily rotatable relative to said circularmeans and against the force of said coupling when said circular membersand restricted against rotation.

GEORGE SCHADT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,937,491 May Nov. 28, 19331,946,868 May Feb. 13, 1934 2,377,951 May June 12, 1945

